Laurence Vaughan has been appointed chairman of the Driving Doctor, developers of the driver behaviour feedback and coaching software platform.

Vaughan (pictured) began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in audit and consulting before joining a client as financial director. 

In 1993, he joined Sytner where as CEO, he led the team that grew the company from a single BMW dealership in Nottingham to a luxury car group when, in 1997, it listed on the London Stock Exchange. 

Sytner was bought by US-based Penske Group in 2002 and Laurence joined the main board before becoming Sytner’s non-executive chairman. He remains on the board of Sytner which is now the largest automotive retailer in the UK.

He is also chairman of Catapult Ventures, Aston Barclay Vehicle Remarketing and SuperBike Factory. He holds a BA from Durham University and is a chartered accountant. 

He said, “I am delighted to be joining Paul Ripley and his team as chairman of the Driving Doctor. The company’s unique driver coaching software platform truly represents the missing link in the telematics value chain. 

“Its significance to those organisations employing people who drive for work, insurance companies and those automotive OEMs who are keen to enhance their CRM programmes is momentous.” 

In response, founder and CEO Paul Ripley said: “Laurence brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the Driving Doctor that will help drive and further develop the company and expand our business footprint across the automotive and insurance sectors. We are delighted to have a such an industry expert join the company as chairman.”

Since the launch of the Driving Doctor, the company has gained traction for its use of telematics data capture.

It is making inroads into the driver behaviour market with car and commercial vehicle fleets and insurance companies, thanks to software that translates real time telematics data into actionable insight and then converts this into expert driver feedback and coaching based on drivers’ needs. 

The product is delivered digitally and direct to each individual driver and provides a perpetual drip-feed of expert advice and safety insight. 

It also supports a company’s compliance requirements with duty of care and HSE Driving for Work legislation. 

In addition, a substantial reduction in fleet running costs (fuel and insurance) have already been achieved by the Driving Doctor’s current customers, resulting in monthly savings of thousands of pounds, it says. 

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